Author Question: Something you do that others might condemn as unethical might once have been an entirely local ... (Read 61 times)

Collmarie · **on:** Jun 19, 2018

Something you do that others might condemn as unethical might once have been an entirely local issue, but today it could be disseminated worldwide in seconds with:

A. Microsoft Office B. Twitter C. Facebook D. email E. both B & C F. both A & D

Question 2

Environmentalism and Economic Freedom: The Case for Private Property Rights

What would be an ideal claim and supporting arguments?

mochi09 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 19, 2018

Answer to Question 1

E. both B & C

Answer to Question 2

Laissez-faire capitalism provides the best system of ensuring environmental protection.
Many environmental problems are the result of unjustified border crossings, i.e. not respecting private property rights.
Societies in which laissez-faire capitalism operates are much more respectful of private property rights than are societies in which government regulation plays a large role.
Therefore systems in which laissez-faire capitalism operates are better able to provide environmental protection.
Block illustrates this general argument by considering the specific cases of air pollution and waste disposal.
With regard to air pollution, Block argues that current problems with air pollution resulted from a change in legal philosophy in the mid-nineteenth century which resulted in private property rights being curtailed in the interests of the 'public good' being pursued in the form of promoting industry. Block claims that the result was that private property owners found it very difficult to sue, and firms had no disincentive to pollute.
With regard to waste disposal, Block argues that government subsidized garbage disposal hides the true cost of waste disposal from individual members of society and, as a result, there is no incentive to choose environmentally friendly products. He argues that if consumers had individually to pay the costs associated with safe disposal of various products, they would very soon pick environmentally friendly products.
If individuals are allowed to sue for pollution damages then industry will be brought to a halt or, at the very least, greatly disrupted.
Suing for pollution damages will not be permitted if the damage is negligible, the burden of proof that harm resulted will be upon the plaintiff and there will quickly develop a forensic science by which responsibility for pollution can be rationally assigned.